Tentering-machine.



J. J. HOEY. TENTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111: 23, 1911.

1,098, 152.. Patented May 26, 1914.

Mme-sass Ange/1e? COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 50., WASHINGTON, [L c.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. f

J. J. HOEY. TENTERING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1911.

m NRN W mm m nO H I NH a T d u 9 3 llill m l m M P I I l I l l I l l I II I l II COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH C0,, WASHINGTON. DIC- J. J. HOEY. TENTERINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1911.

Patnted Ma '26, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEE'I 3.

Wa kW COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cu..wAHlNaTON. D o.

JOHN J. HOEY, OF 1ROVIDEN'CE,'RHODE ISLAND.

rnivr'naine-riaoiimn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ma as, iaia.

Application filed June 2 3, 1911. Serial No. 634,912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JOHN J. HoEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTentering-h'lachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tent-ering-machines for use in finishing textilematerials and consists particularly of improvements in the mechanism forreciprocating the siderails or frames on which the conveyor orcloth-clamp chains are carried.

The object of my improvement is to secure a more uniform movement of thesiderails and to relieve the strain and stress on the driving mechanismdue to momentum and inertia of the moving parts.

The invention is fully described in the following specification,illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the driving end of a tentering-machine showing my improvedrail-reciprocating mechanism applied thereto; Fig. *2, a plan view ofthe same with the side-rails indicated by dashlines, so as not toobscure the view of the driving devices arranged underneath; Fig. 3, anend view showing one of the crossarms for the side-rails mounted on itssupporting standard; Figs. 4: and 5, detail views of the clutch andbrake devices for the reciprocating mechanism; Fig. 6, a detail view ofone of the crank-disks for re ciprecating the side-rails.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have here illustrated a tentering-machinearranged with the side-rails A and B carrying sprocket-wheels b at theirends, the latter adapted to drive the endless conveyorchains made up ofcloth-clamps, not here shown in detail. The rails A and B are supportedon cross-arms C, D, etc. arranged at intervals along the machine andswiveled on standards E, F, etc., see Fig. 3. The cross-arms C, D arepreferably pivoted on bearings c on the standards E, F and have rolls (Zadapted to run on the tracks 6, f to carry the weight of the rails. Therails A and B are mounted on pivot-blocks a and I), see Figs 3, whichallow the arms C and D to oscillate about their axes to reciprocate therails Preferably these blocks are adjustable along the cross-arms. by.

means of the screw-threaded rods 6 gen- 1 erally arrangedto be rotatedthrough gears 6 connecting them with the longitudinal shaft b whichcarries a hand-wheel b at one end, see Fig. 2. By this means the railscan be adjusted toward and away from each other to adapt the chains todifferent widths of cloth.

Supported in bearings g, g mounted on the bed G of the machine is a maindriveshaft H carrying a belt-pulley h or other driving element at oneend. The shaft H also carries a pulley or chain-wheel 71. connected to awheel y" en the horizontal shaft J by a belt or chain 2'. The shaft Jcarries worms 70 at both ends which mesh with worm-gears is mounted onstud-shafts K, see Fig. 1. The stud-shafts K are connected by universaljoints Z to telescopic shafts L which, in turn, are connected by similarjoints Z to the stud-shafts M mounted in bearings on the rails A and Band carrying the sprocket-wheels b. This arrangement of drivingmechanism for the sprocket-wheels is described in detail in my PatentNo. 974,271, dated November 1, 1910, and provides for transmittingrotation from a fixed shaft to the constantly shifting sprocketwheelshafts without backlash or lost motion.

The sprocket-wheels, as before explained, serve to continuously drivethe eonveyerchains which carry cloth-clamps for gripping the edges ofthe fabric and feeding it through the machine. During the travel of thecloth from one end of the machine to the other the side-rails areoperated to pull and stretch the fabric in a well known manner nowgenerally used for giving the finish to certain kinds of material. Thisaction is efiected by reciprocating the rails longitudinally in oppositedirections during the operation of the machine. To accomplish this, Iprovide the novel arrangement of mechanism now described: Extendingacross the bed of the machine parallel with the driveshaft H is ahorizontal shaft N mounted in the bearings 12., 'n-. The shaft N isrotated from the drive-shaft H by means of abelt or chain a connectingthe pulley or chainwheel it with the wheel 0.- The wheel 0 is preferablyarranged free to rotate on the shaft N but is connected therewith todrive the shaft by means of a clutchdevice shown in detail in Fig. 4:.This consists essentially of a clutch-member P free to slide on theshaft N, but rotatably secured thereto by suitable means, such, forinstance, as the spline 77, and formed with a cone face 1) adapted toengage the corresponding interior face 0 of the wheel 0. A coiled spring9, held between the end of the member P and a collar q secured to theshaft N, serves to normally retain the clutch in en ga 'einent with thewheel 0. The clutch P is adapted to be disengaged from the wheel 0 bymeans of a hand lever R pivoted at r on the bed of the machine. Securedto the lever B is a ring or hoop 1 carrying a pin 7 which, inconjunction with a pin r projecting from the lever itself, engages agroove 10 on the periphery of the clutch P. When the lever R is swung inthe direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 4, the pins 1 and 7- act onthe side of the groove p to slide the clutch P out of engagement withthe wheel 0 and the lever is maintained in this posi tion by means of ausual arrangement of pawl r engaging the teeth on the quadrant r andoperated by the finger-lever r The lever B is also arranged to actuate abrakedevice simultaneously with the disengaging of the clutch-mechanisnito arrest the rota tion of the shaft N and lock it against furtherrotation. The brake-mechanism com 1 rises a member S, held. fast on theshaft N y means of splines s, s and a set-screw s, and adapted to takethe end thrust of the wheel 0, the latter being held between said memberand the collar 8 The member S is formed with an interior, tapered face sadapted to be engaged by the correspondingly tapered face if of thebrake element T. The element T is operated by an arm U pivoted at a onthe bed of the machine and having a loop a extending around the oppositeside of the member T, see Fig. 2. Trunnions t, projecting from the sidesof the member T connect it with the arm U and its loop a and prevent themember T from turning. The arm U is connected to the lever B by a link aand when the lever is moved to slide the clutch P out of engagement withthe wheel 0 the member T is coordinately moved into engagement with themember S to provide a frictional engagement which arrests the rotationof the shaft N and locks it against further turning until the brake isreleased.

The shaft N carries two worms '7), '1) arranged in the openings abetween the ends of the bearings n, a, see Fig. 2. The worms '0, a meshwith worm-gears o 41 mounted on the vertical shafts V and V. The hubs ofthe worms 0), o rotate in bearings a formed on or attached to the bed Gand suitable casings o inclose both the worms and worm-gears to protectthem from dirt and provide oil-tight housings. The arrangement of theshaft N, worms '2), o and gears '0 o is similar to the gearingarrangement at the end of the machine which is used to drive theflexible shafts for the sprocketwheels, and the whole gives aparticularly neat and compact appearance while providing oil-flushedbearings for the operating parts. The shafts V and V extend upwardthrough bearings a), on the side frames or standards X, X and carrycrankdisks and W at their upper ends. The crank-disks W and W areprovided with wrist-pins w, w which are preferably adjustable inrelation to the axes of the disks to vary the throw of the cranks. Asshown in Figs. 1 and G, the disks are provided with diametricallyextending Tslots w to which are fitted sliding blocks e0 carrying thewrist-pins w. Each pin w is formed as a stud screwed into the block withits shoulder w set up against the top face of the latter. There is aslight clearance be tween the top of the block to and the top of thecrank-disk W and a bushing w surrounding the pin w is formed with aflange 20 adapted to bear on the face of the disk. A washer e0 bearsagainst the upper end of the bushing w with a clearance between itsunder side and the should-er w on the pin 20. A nut 10 is secured on tothe threaded end @0 of the pin w and serves to force the bushing 10against the face of the crankdisk to bind the block Q03 in the T-slot10*. Through this means the block 10 is retained in position after beingadjusted on the crank-disk and I have also found it desirable to providemeans for setting both the blocks accurately in relation to the axes ofthe disks. To this end the disks and lV are provided with. holes to,etc. adapted to receive the ends of dowelpins or studs 10 screwedthrough the blocks w. These holes are spaced equidistantly away from theaxis of both crank-disks and when the blocks are adjusted with thedowels registering with corresponding holes the wrist-pins on the twodisks will be set to have exactly the same throw.

Surrounding the bushing w on the wristpiu w is a second bushing 10 heldbetween the washer w and the flange e0 This liuishing has a flange 10 atits upper end between which and the flange 10 is pivotally mounted theend of a connectinga'od Y. The opposite end of the rod Y, see Figs. 1and 2, is connected by a pin to the eye-bolt 7 which extends through oneend of the cross-arm D and is secured thereto by the nuts 7 By referenceto Fig. 1 it will be noted that the shaft N is arranged equidistantlybetween the two cross-arms C and D and the worm-gears o and o with theirvertical shafts V and V are set on opposite sides of the shaft N. Asbefore stated, the crank-disk TV is connected to the crossarm D by thepitman or connecting-rod Y and a second pitman Y of equal lengthconnects the disk W with the cross-arm C in a similar manner. The worm'v and a) are leftand right-handed respectively and as the drive-shaft His turned in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, Fig. 1, and theshaft N rotated thereby in the same direction, the two vertical shafts Vand V will be turned both in the same direction as indicated by thearrows 8, 3, Fig. 2. The wrist-pins 'w and w are set on opposite centersand it will be seen that when the crank-disks are rotated as describedthe pitmen Y and Y will be operated in unison to alternately pull andpush on the ends of the cross-arms C and D to oscillate the latter abouttheir pivots on the standards E and F. This causes the two side-rails Aand B which are pivotally secured to the cross-arms by the blocks a, bto be reciprocated in opposite directions and the cloth is tentered inthe usual well known manner as it feeds through the machine, carried bythe endless conveyer chains of clamps. In some cases the fabric is fedthrough the machine without pulling or stretching it through thereciprocating action of the side-rails; and when it is so clesired toallow the rails to remain at rest it is only necessary to shift thelever B and throw out the clutch P. At the same operation the brakeelement T is thrown into engagement with the member S to lock the shaftN and prevent movement of the siderails.

An essential feature of improvement in my invention is the arrangementof the crank-disks to operate in horizontal planes with their pitmenconnected to opposite ends of the two cross-arms C and D. Through thisarrangement the pitmen are adapted to operate in a plane parallel to theline of movement of the side-rails. This gives a direct, straight-lineaction which prevents cramping, lost motion, or back-lash and alsoobviates the use of knuckle joints for connecting the driving and drivenelements. Heretofore where motion has been transmitted to the side-railsfrom vertically arranged cranks or similar devices it has been necessaryto employ intermediary elements such as long arms or, in some cases,bellcrank levers to convert the rotary motion to a reciprocatorymovement and the use of such connections involves numerous extrabearings and couplings which are subject to great strain and consequentwear. lVith the present arrangement I secure the most direct line oftransmission from the cranks to the side-rails, and furthermore, sincethe pitmen operate in a plane parallel with the line of movement of therails, there is no tendency to pull down on the ends of the crossarmsand therefore cramping or binding of the arms on their bearings isprevented and extra stress avoided. Where vertical arms pivoted belowthe rails have been used the constant downward and upward action of theconnecting rods on the side-ralls causes vibration and poundmg, re-

sulting in excessive wear on the parts and lost power in operating themachine. 7 I

The arrangement of the two crank-disks wlth their pitmen connected toopposite ends of the two separate cross-arms is a most.

important feature of the invention. By this means the variation inangular movement of the cranks is-compensated for or balanced so thattheir points of connection with the rails move absolutely in consonance.In other words, the areal movement of the point of connection of thepitman Y with the arm D corresponds to the areal movement of the pointof connection of the pitman Y on the arm C and these points have thesame ratio of movement with their respective cranks. There is,therefore, no lost motion or cramping tendency as would be the case ifboth cranks were connected to opposite ends of the same cross-arm. Thecranks act through their pitmen with both 'pitmen' alternately pullingor pushing on both rails at the same time and a smooth even motion issecured without vibration or pounding and with a minimum of strain onthe operating parts.

My new arrangement for transmitting motion from the drive-shaft to thedriven 9 shaft and thence to the cranks without the use of bevel or spurgears is also novel as applied to a tentering machine and possessesimportant features of improvement. The side-rails and conveyer chainscarried thereon are of great weight, particularly in large machineswhich are sometimes nearly one hundred feet long. The movement of suchheavy elements is obviously subject to a considerable effect'frominertia and momentum and these forces tend to cause vibration and jar.-Where bevel or spur gears are used to drive the mechanism the clearancebetween the teeth will allow considerable play and backlash, especiallyafter the gears become worn. This results in uneven motion,

lost power and great wear on the parts which soon deteriorate to such anextent as to require extensive replacement. In my present arrangement bythe use of link-belts or chains and worm-gearing I am enabled toeliminate this vibration due to backlash and by providing a smooth evendrive I render the parts less liable to damage and wear and consequentlymore efficient and durable.

Various modifications might be made in the structure and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention;therefore without limiting myself to the exact form shown and described,what I claim is 1. In a tentering-machine, the combination withlongitudinally reciprocating siderails, of means to reciprocate saidrails comprising vertical shafts, means to rotate the shafts,crank-disks on said shafts, and pitmen extending in opposite directionsfrom the axes of said crank-disks and connected to reciprocate theside-rails with movement in opposite directions.

2. In a tentering-machine, the combination with longitudinallyreciprocating siderails, of means to reciprocate said rails comprising apair of vertical shafts, means to rotate said shafts, horizontallyarranged crank-disks on the shafts, wrist-pins carried by saidcrank-disks, and pitmen extending in opposite directions from the axesof said crank-disks and connecting the Wrist-pins to reciprocate theside-rails.

8. In a tentering-machine, the combination with longitudinallyreciprocating siderails, of means to reciprocate said rails comprisinghorizontally arranged cranks, means to rotate the cranks, and pitmenextending from the cranks in opposite directions with each pitmanconnected to reciprocate one of the side-rails.

4. In a tentering-machine, the combination with the side-rails, of meansto reciprocats the rails comprising a pair of vertical shafts,worm-gearing arranged to drive both shafts in the same direction, cranksmounted on said shafts and pitmen connecting said cranks to reciprocatethe side-rails, said pit inen extending in opposite directions from theaxes of the crank-shafts and arranged to operate in a horizontal plane.

5. In a tentering-machine, the combination with a plurality ofoscillating crossarms, of side-rails mounted on said crossarms, twohorizontally arranged cranks, means to rotate the cranks, a pitmanconnecting one of the cranks to the end of one of the cross-arms, and asecond pitman ex tending in the opposite direction and connecting theother crank to the opposite end of the next cross-arm.

6. In a tentering-machine, the combination with a plurality ofoscillating crossarms, of side-rails adapted to he reciprocated from theoscillation of said cross-arms, horizontally disposed cranks arrangedbetween two of the cross-arms, a pitman connecting one crank to one endof one of the cross-, arms, and a second pitman extending in theopposite direction and connecting the other crank to the opposite end ofthe other crossarm.

7. In a tentering-machine, the combination with two horizontalcross-arms, pivot bearings for said cross-arms, side-rails mounted onthe cross-arms on opposite sides of the pivots, a horizontal crankconnected to one end of one of the cross-arms, a second crank connectedto the opposite end of the other cross-arm, and means to rotate thecranks in the same direction to oscillate the cross-arms in unison.

S. In a tentering-machine, the combina tion with two pivoted cross-armsadapted to oscillate in a horizontal plane, side-rails supported on saidarms, a pair of cranks adapted to rotate in a horizontal plane andhaving wrist-pins set on opposite centers, and pitinen connecting onecrank with the end of one cross-arm and the other crank with theopposite end of the other cross-arm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. HOEY.

lVitnesses GEORGE W. BLACKBURN, GEORGE A. WHITE, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

r Washington, D. C.

